Decisions and Choices: Yes and No

As we're coming in on the finish line of another year of homeschooling, not only are we scrambling to finish books and assignments to complete the school year, we're also planning out classes and subjects and activities for next year.

With three kids in three grades it's no easy task! Add to the curriculum choices: co-op and outside classes, hobbies, sports, interests, extra-curricular activities, family life (training and discipling the kids) and church commitments, babysitting...etc. So much to do, so little time! With so many competing demands it can be dizzying trying to evaluate and plan what we should be involved in.

And then, add to that - the fact that we live in community with our church where no two families are the same - we all are in different seasons, we have different goals and aspirations and different values and priorities. We do, however, have one over-arching goal of glorifying God with our lives -but that's going to look different for each of us. The beauty of diversity!

One example...competitive sports isn't on my list of priorities - we chose not to be a soccer or little league family - but we have many friends who place that high on their list. That doesn't mean that it's not important or valuable - or that it can't be a good and useful activity in the raising of children- or being involved with the community. It just means that given my set of circumstances, with my children - it's not important enough to me.

My choice isn't a statement about other families - it's a statement about me and what I think is best for my family, my circumstances, my energy level and what we feel God is calling us as a family to do with these few and fleeting years we have together before the kids graduate and leave home.

I recently read a very helpful article about being comfortable with the No side of what we say Yes to. That means - whatever I do say "yes" to, automatically implies that there are other things I'm saying "no" to. Once I have clear direction on my priorities, and I say Yes to only those activities that fit those priorities, I can be confident and at rest in my No. I don't need to waste time second guessing myself, putting pressure on myself to be like other families or being defensive about how other families say yes (or no). Their choices have nothing to do with me.

So, during this crazy month of May - when I'm forced to re-evaluate my activities in light of my priorities - I need God's grace to help me be strong to do what he's called me to do, be confident in my Yes and No and to be loving toward those who make different choices.

Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? He stands or falls before his own Lord-and stand he will, because the Lord makes him stand. ~Romans 14:4